Dangerous dog crackdown approved by NSW Cabinet

Danger muzzled: Council rangers will be able to take action before a dog has attacked, under the changes approved by Cabinet.

Website: Tekkaus.com

The New South Wales Cabinet has given approval for a crackdown on dangerous dogs, including a new classification of "menacing dog".

The changes are in response to recommendations from the state's Companion Animals Taskforce, six months after it released its report on managing dangerous dogs.

Local Government Minister Don Page says a dog owner whose animal has been involved in a serious attack could be fined up to $77,000 or jailed for up to five years.

He says council rangers will have more power through the new menacing dog category.

"The main reason for introducing that new category of dog is to enable council rangers to be more proactive and prevent dog attacks," Mr Page said.

"At the moment the arrangement is a dangerous dog has to have been guilty of an attack before it can be labelled that way.

"If we have a new category of menacing dog then a dog that is showing aggressive behaviour and a potential to attack can be taken in by a council ranger and the rules that apply in terms of controls are much tougher than it would be for an ordinary dog.

"For example a menacing dog, if it was out in the public, would have to be muzzled. It would have to be under the control of an 18-year-old, at least, on a leash."

The issue has been highlighted by the death of a two-year-old boy earlier this month after he was mauled at his grandmother's home at Deniliquin in the Riverina region.

Legislation to implement the changes will now need to be passed by State Parliament.